Meet the newly named ‘Edith Monture Elementary School’

Many family members facing camera with framed image of Edith Monture
Monture/Moses Family gathered around new portrait of Edith Monture that will be displayed in school Foyer. Photo by David Moses.
David Moses - CKRZ - OhswekenON | 29-09-2022
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Editor's Note: David Moses is related to the Moses' family members who attended the Edith Monture event and spoke with CKRZ.

A renaming ceremony took place today in Brantford at the former Ryerson Heights Elementary School, located at 33 Dowden Ave., to celebrate the school’s new name: Edith Monture Elementary School.

The school-wide event was held to honour the legacy of Edith Anderson Monture, a Mohawk from Six Nations and of the Bear Clan. Students, staff, guests and Monture family members were on hand for the special occasion.

Born in 1890 on the Six Nations of the Grand River territory, Edith Monture was the first Indigenous woman to become a registered nurse in Canada and graduated from New York’s, New Rochelle Nursing School in 1914. 

Monture served in the First World War and subsequently gained the right to vote, becoming the first Indigenous woman and registered band member in the country's history to do so. 

In addition to the new school name, Six Nations artist Raymond Skye created a new image of Edith for the school which the Director of Education JoAnna Roberto says will be front and centre for all the students to see.

Listen to this story as voiced by David Moses for CKRZ FM below: